A09445:315
Of the calling of the ministry two treatises, describing the duties and dignities of…Of the calling of the ministerie two treatises, discribing the duties and dignities of…
Of the calling of the ministry two treatises, describing the duties and dignities of that calling. Delivered publicly in the University of Cambridge, by Master Perkins. Taken then from his mouth, and now diligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word with a preface prefixed touching the publishing of Master Perkins his works, & a catalogue of all such particulars thereof, as are to be expected.Of the calling of the ministerie two treatises, discribing the duties and dignities of that calling. Delivered publickly in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge, by Maister Perkins. Taken then from his mouth, and now dilligently perused and published, by a preacher of the word with a preface prefixed touching the publishing of Maister Perkins his workes, & a catalogue of all such particulars thereof, as are to bee expected.
London: printed by I. Roberts for William Welby, 1605
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But it will then be demanded, how may I know if God bid me go: God speaks not now from heaven as in old time, and as to this Prophet: I answer, It is true, we are to look for no such visions, nor apparitions from heaven, for ordinarily there are none such, and the Popish Church doth but deceive themselves, and cozen the world, who tell us of so many apparitions that happen to their Monks and Fryers: for now ordinarily, God speaketh in another manner to his Church: for in General duties God speaketh to us out of his word and holy Scriptures, and in particular and personal duties, (where the word in plain terms serveth not) he speaketh to a man by his own conscience, and by the voice of his Church.
But it will then bee demaunded, how may I know if God bid mee goe: God speakes not now from heauen as in old time, and as to this Prophet: I answere, It is true, we are to looke for no such visions, nor apparitions from heauen, for ordinarily there are none such, and the Popish Church doth but deceiue themselues, and cozen the world, who tell vs of so many apparitions that happen to their Monkes and Fryers: for now ordinarily, God speaketh in another maner to his Church: for in Generall duties God speaketh to vs out of his word and holy Scriptures, and in p•rticular and personall duties, (where the word in plaine termes serueth not) hee speaketh to a man by his owne conscience, and by the voice of his Church.
Out of this word, God showeth thee the dignity and excellency of this calling,1 to be a minister of the word: Namely, they are his Messengers & Ambassadors, ⟨p. 123⟩&c. that so he may win them to love and affect it. And again,2 the necessity of it, that it teacheth the way to salvation, that without it ordinarily Gods Chuch is not gathered, nor mens souls saved, that this may stir thee up to undertake the burden: this is general. But now particularly for thy self, wouldst thou know whether GOD would have thee to go or no, then thou must ask thy own conscience, and ask the Church, for if thou be heartily willing, and be fully and worthily qualified, then God bids thee go. Now thy conscience must judge of thy willingness, and the Church of thy ability: and as thou mayest not trust other men, to judge of thy inclination or affection, so thou mayst not trust thy own judgement, to judge of thy worthiness or sufficiency. If therefore thy own conscience tell thee upon true examination, that thou doest not love and affect this calling above any other, then God sends thee not: and if thou enter with such a testimony, not God but some worldly and sinister respect doth send thee, and put thee forward: